Collapsible cabinet



Nov. 27, 1951 w. v. CLARK COLLAPSIBLE CABINET 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FiledJan. 6, 1950 m R w mm. MN m 5 v. m I F "W m QM W w M 1951 w. v. CLARKCOLLAPSIBLE CABINET 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1950 Willie V. ClarkINVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CABINETWillie V. Clark, Washington, D. C.

Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,184

I Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cabinets andthe primary object of the present invention is to provide a cabinetincluding a pair of adjacent walls having spaced sleeves along theiredges and with the material of one of the wall between the sleeves bentat 90 to form supporting brackets for shelves.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide acabinet composed of a plurality of parts that are quickly and readilyassembled or disassembled in a convenient manner and which may beutilized as a screen as well as a cabinet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblecabinet having shelves mounted therein and embodying novel and improvedmeans for partitioning the space between adjacent shelves.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cabinet ofrelatively low gauge metal so constructed as to provide a large storagespace and a strong joint between adjacent walls.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblecabinet wherein the end walls are formed with hinge sleeves and shelfsupporting brackets in a single operation to reduce to a minimum thetime and labor required for constructing the cabinet and to utilizematerial, for bracketing, that is ordinarily discarded.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblecabinet that is simple and practical in construction, strong andreliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive inappearance, extremely inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the present cabinet assembled for use;

, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the cabinetis collapsed;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cabinet collapsed; Figure 4 is asectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of section line 6-5 of Figure '5 Figure 7 is a transversevertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section linel--'! of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on the plane ofsection line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the end walls toshow the manner in which the hinge sleeves and shelf brackets areformed;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which therear wall sections are joined;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the cabinetand showing the means for supporting auxiliary or unused shelves;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the partition meansapplied between adjacent shelves;

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line l3l3 of Figure 6; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line l4-l4 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The cabinet is constructed from sheet metal and is designatedgenerally by the numeral ill and includes end walls l2 and I4, a pair ofupper wall sections l6 and I8, a pair of lower wall sections 20 and 22,a pair of forward wall sections 24 and 26, and a pair of rear wallsections 28 and 30.

The upper and lower edges of the end walls 12 and [4 are folded inwardlyto provide upper and lower horizontal flanges 32 and 34. The inner edgeof the upper wall section [6 is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced sleeves 36 that are interdigitated with furtherlongitudinally spaced sleeves 38 at the inner edge of the upper wallsection 18. A suitable hinge pin is extended through the interdigitatedsleeves 36 .and 38. T

Attaching strips 40 and 42 overlie the upper horizontal flanges 32 ofthe end walls l2 and M. The attaching strips 40 and 42 are detachablysecured to the flanges 32 through the medium of tongues 44 that arestruck from the strips 40 and 42 and which enter slots or openings 46formed in the flanges 32. The tongues 44 yieldingly bear against theundersurface of the flanges 32 as shown best in Figure 3 of thedrawings.

Longitudinally spaced sleeves 48 and 50 are provided at'the outer sideedges of the upper wall sections and i8. These sleeves (48, '50) areinterdigitated with further longitudinally spaced sleeves 52 and 54'.formed at the inner side edges of the attaching strips 40 and 42.Suitable hinge pins are extended through the sleeves 48, 52 and 59, 5d.

The inner edges of the lower wall sections 26 and 22 are provided withlongitudinally spaced sleeves 55 and '58 respectively. The sleeves 55are interdigitated with the sleeves 518 and a hinge pin is extendedthrough the sleeves 56 and 58. The outer side edges or" the lower wallsections and 22 are also provided with longitudinally spaced sleeves -89and 82 that are interdieitated with longitudinally spaced sleeves 64 and66 at the inner edges of lower attaching strips 68 and iii. Additionallyhinge pins areextendedthrough the sleeves 69, 64 and S2, 66.

The lower attaching strips 68 and 1!! underlie the lower flanges 34 andtongues 12 struck from the attaching strips; 6'8 and ill enter. slots oropenings bi provided in the lower flanges 34. The tongues l2 yieldinglybear against, the inner or upper faces of the. flanges. 3.4- in. orderto retain the. end wall sections, 2(1 and 22 detachably secured to theend walls l2 and M The forward and rear vertical edges of the; end wallst2 and it are provided with vertically spaced horizontal slits. that areequally spaced. to define groups of tongues or arms 16. Alternatetongues, 18', of the groups of tongues 16 are bent inwardly at: 90? toform shelf supports whereas the outer edges of the tongues 76 are rolledupon themselves to providesleeves 80.

Forward and rear pairs of hinge strips 82 and 84 are associated with theend walls l2 and i i. 'Eongi tudi-nally' spaced sleeves. 86- and 88 areprovided at the outer edges of the hinge strips 32 and 8E. Hinge pinsare extended into the sleeves 30, 86 and 86 8% to connect the hingestrips. 82 and its to the end walls. Longitudinally spaced sleeves 9dand 92 are also provided at the inner edges of the hinge strips 82- and84-. These latest sleeves (99, 9-2) are. interdi'gitated withlongitudinally spaced sleeves 94 and 9d at the outer edges of theforward and rear wall sections 26, and 2 8, 30. Hinge pins areextendedinto the sleeves $0, 94' and $2, 96 to retain the forward and rearwallsections 24, Z5 and- 2-8, 36 relative tothe end Walls l2- and M.

The inner verticaledge of the forward wall section 2 6 is provided withan ofiset 9.8 that will overlie the inner vertical edge of the forwardwall section 2 4 when the forward wall sections are moved to theirclosed position. The forward wall sections are retained closed andlocked together by a suitable latch ['00.

V The inner vertical edge of the rear wall section 2.8- is bent to forma vertical channel I021 The inner vertical edge of 'the rear wallsection 38 is folded upon itself to form a double thickness edge I06that isfri'ctionally fitted into the channel N32 to retain the rear wallsections locked together; By pressing inwardly and forwardly upon theinner joined edges of the rear wall secticns, the edge l04- will snapoutof the channel H32 as shown best in Figure 10 of the drawings.Atention is directed to Figure 8 wherein there is disclosed thepreferred method for reinforcing the connection between the rear Wallsections and the bottom wall sections. The rear edges of the bottom wallsections are turned upwardly to provide vertical flanges I06. ChannelsI08 are pressed in the flanges Hi6 and yieldingly receive 'ribs. I10.pressed from the. rear wall sections.

Flanges H2 at the lower ends of the rear wall sections ride upon thebottom wall sections as the rear wall sections are folded inwardly andforwardly.

A plurality of horizontally disposed panels or shelves l 5-4 arepositioned within the cabinet and these shelves are supported on certainof the tongues 78 as shown in Figure 5. The shelves may be spaced fromeach other a predetermined distance, depending upon the type article orarticles that are to be disposed between adjacent shelves.

Means is provided for dividing the space between adjacent partitionsinto two areas. This means consists of a base strip I it that isdisposed transversely of one of the shelves. The reduced end portions,of the base strip H6 are bent to form hooks or channels H8 that slidablyreceive the side edges of one shelf. Longitudinally spaced sleeves I28depend from one edge of the base strip it. and are. interdigitated withspaced sleeves its at; the unner ed e. of; an pp r n rdtion member tar.A hin e pin I26 is extended into. the sleeves 3.28; and; i 2.2.

The side. edges of the upper partition member in. are folded inwardly toprovide channels. I28. Slots. its are. formed the channels [.28 andslida'olyreceive lugs 1.32 at. the side edges of a lower partitionmember I.

The, end portions; of a half-round hollow rubaredetachably and.slidabl-y secured to ine. of a. sheli and the lower edge,- of hpartition member :34 is forced against; the; rubber to be yieldinsly"retained thereto as: t a; rather is depressed at its longitudinal centerto receive the lower edge of. the. lower partition member i:34..

The tongues E8, in addition to: their iuzneztion a 'shelving supports,will also limit the inward s swinging movement. of the.- strips $2 and8A.. These tongues 7:3 function as. stops. as well as supports. 7 7Since one the outstanding features of the present invention is toprovide. a. cabinet structure that is convenient to manufacture. at lowcost and which may be sold to. the purchasing public at a low price, it.is: observed that the walls [:2 and it are bent and. rolled; to form theflanges. 3'2 and 3 the tongues 13:, arms 16 and sleeves in a singleoperation with conventional type of machinery familiar to. the sheetmetal industry;

One or both or the end walls l2 and M supportv upper and lower bracketsor channels 140 and M2 on their outer faces for receiving and holdingadditional shelving or shelving not being used within thecabi net.

Closuremem-bcrs hit are hinged to the-strips 8-2 and are retained injuxtaposition to the walls #2 and P4, to guardand shield the shelvingsupported by thebrackets M1! and M2", by suitable spring clips M 6mounted onthe strips 64.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cabinet. including a pair of hingedly connected walls. one ofsaid walls having a plurality' of spaced parallel slits therein todefine a. plurality of tongues between adjacent s its; the outer edgesof alternate tongues being bent upon themselves to provide hingesleeves, and the. remaining tongues being bent perpendicularly to saidone of said GIIdJQWStHS, to. form shelf. supports. 7

2.. A cabinetwali comprising an elongatedsheet side edges having aplurality of spaced parallel slits therein to define a plurality oftongues between adjacent slits, certain of said tongues being bentperpendicular to said elongated sheet of material to form shelf supportmeans and the outer edges of further of said tongues being bent uponthemselves to provide hinge sleeves.

3. A collapsible cabinet comprising a pair of hingedly connected upperwall sections, a pair of hingedly connected lower wall sections, a pairof end walls, means detachably and hingedly securing the upper wallsections to the end walls, further means deta'chably and hingedlysecuring the lower wall sections to the end walls, a pair of forwardwall sections, said end walls having for- -=:.'ard and rear edges and aplurality of spaced parallel slits extending inwardly through said edgesto define a plurality of tongues between adjacent slits, the outer edgesof alternate tongues being bent upon themselves to provide hingesleeves, and the remaining tongues being bent perpendicular to the endwalls to form supports, means pivotally securing the forward wallsections to the hinge sleeve at the forward edges of said end walls, apair of rear Wall sections, means pivotally securing the rear wallsections is to the hinge sleeves at the rear edges of the end walls, andshelves supported on said supportforming tongues.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said first mentioned meansincludes attaching strips hinged to said upper wall sections, flanges atthe upper ends of said end walls, said strips overlying said flanges,and interconnecting means between said flanges and said strips.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said interconnecting meansincludes resilient tongues on said strips, said flanges having openingsreceiving said tongues, said tongues yieldingly bearing against saidflanges and retaining said flanges between said tongues and said strips.

WILLIE V. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 491,495 R-idell Feb. 7, 18931,342,269 Stewart June 1, 1920 1,696,123 Packer Dec. 18, 1928 1,822,448Morin Sept. 8, 1931

